Plana’s Pantry

After a toxic week last week, my colleague, Lily, and I had a casual conversation about blogging. She’s back with her blog and I’m so happy about it! I really don’t know why but it just makes me happy to know that other than me, there’s also another person in the team who blogs about anything under the sun.

Actually, it was her who influenced me to go back to my roots (Yeah, Blogger, that’s you.) And while we’re discussing about her drafts and her latest blog entry, I also checked out her blog entries and some of her Instagram photos. I found a Bingsu in her Instagram and being a foodie, I easily got interested in where she found it. She mentioned a store in the Pavilion Mall in Edsa Central, Mandaluyong City. I got so interested that I asked so many questions on where I can find it. Eventually, I was able to figure things out.

She also mentioned that there was a posh restaurant nearby California Gardens. Actually, it’s in front of Migui’s Fitness Hub but more accurately, it is beside Robinson’s Bank. It’s situated in a commercial building so you can easily spot it if you’re coming from Robinson’s California Gardens.

The posh restaurant Lily mentioned was called Plana’s Pantry. She told me that the aunt of the owner of Plana’s Pantry is also a Methodist. She mentioned that their family are not just restaurant owners but also one of the founders of the Methodist Church.

Plana’s Pantry is owned and operated by husband and wife team Jolly and Rachel Plana. It is all about a family inspired, simple, honest, generous, delightful food, and good relationships.

It all started in their home, in the pantry, where the family’s passion for delicious food took shape. As a young married couple, they found themselves blessed to be able to have weekly dinners with both sides of their family. ( As both husband and wife family sides are large for a weekly gathering, they found it convenient to do dinners each side on different days.)

Rachel’s side of the family whom they would call the “Wednesday group” would come over to their home weekly to enjoy moments of good company and good food. They always took pleasure in planning and preparing what to serve their guests and were readily encouraged and heartened with their raves and praises for the food they serve.

Gatherings for Jolly’s side was called the “Saturday group”. Just like the the “Wednesday group, they got together weekly but had a different format. They were brought together by their desire to spend time with their Grandfather who is into his mid 90’s and whom they fondly call Daddy Doctor. Every Saturday, the Plana’s meet up to visit “Super Lolo” Daddy Doctor, and at the same time get the “super” grand kids together for a play date.

Each family of 3 generations were asked to bring a dish according to a ‘theme’ they would agree on each week. Preparation and planning for the dish was where most of the fun was and everybody looked forward to Saturday. The Plana’s are all foodies, each one can cook well….really well, and that is almost a trademark. If some families can sing and dance, the Plana’s can cook and you can be sure they will always bring what would please themselves.

Little did Jolly and Rachel know that these gatherings would soon be taking them to a bigger venue. Hence, the creation of Plana’s Pantry. It has always been their joy to share good food and wholesome experience and they hope that through Plana’s Pantry they would be able to share to a larger group what they like to cook and eat themselves, and serve their customers with an honest, simple, generous, and delightful food that satisfies.
Now, they also offer catering services for lunch and dinner to companies from 100 to 1000 people.

So my boyfriend, Ino, and I went to Plana’s Pantry after lunch to have some late lunch. It was a good thing that he was in the mood because I was able to persuade him to check out the place. I actually mentioned this to him the night before and I guess he was also curious about it that’s why he agreed to accompany me the next day.

Planas Pantry has a good ambiance. It was bright and cozy and the music also helped in setting the mood for its customers. There were witty quotations on the walls too. They also have some interesting quotes on the paper placemats.

Witty and on point quotations from Plana’s Pantry’s paper placematsMenu 1Menu 2 and 3

Ino ordered some American Sausage and Eggs and Pesto RiceIno ordered some hot Green Tea in the middle of the afternoon. Naks, afternoon tea! :] LOL!I ordered some Chicken Steak which comes with carrots and corn and Pesto RiceOh! Their staff were also nice and accommodating. :]

All in all, Lily didn’t disappoint us. The ambiance was relaxing, the room’s temperature was just right, a bit of Jazz or acoustic music playing in the background, and of course delicious and affordable food in one place. What else can you ask for?

If you are looking for a nice and cozy place to bring your date or your family, I recommend you to try Plana’s Pantry. I’m sure you won’t regret it. :]